Third Squadron Captain Shi Cheng had never forgotten the stench that clung to that torso. It had cost him a full bowl of rice at dinner that evening.

And now, the torso lay in the Military Police Bureau’s autopsy room, where forensic examiner E’Yuan stood before it, completely at a loss.

“Still no leads?” Shi Ting walked in, dressed in his black uniform, and casually pulled on a pair of gloves.

“Female,” E’Yuan said.

Shi Ting turned the body over and frowned. “That’s it?”

E’Yuan’s face flushed red. “The severed ends are clean. Dismemberment occurred post-mortem.”

“I didn’t need you to tell me that — I could see it myself,” Shi Ting said. “What I need right now are leads I can hand off to the squadrons so they can track down the source of the body.”

“For — for now, nothing,” E’Yuan said, lowering his head in shame.

At that moment, an officer knocked on the door from outside and saluted. “Report, Director. The Marshal is on the phone.”

“What did he say?” Shi Ting continued examining the body, his expression composed and detached.

“The Marshal says this case is causing a bad impression. A lot of fishermen are too afraid to go out to sea, so he’s ordering the Bureau to solve it within three days.”

“Three days?” Bai Jin, standing nearby, voiced his skepticism. “We can’t even identify the victim yet. How are we supposed to find the killer in three days? That’s far too short.”

The officer looked uncomfortable. “Th — those were the Marshal’s exact words.”

“Understood.” Shi Ting stripped off his gloves and tossed them aside. “First Squadron and Second Squadron are to continue canvassing the area where the body was found. Based on the direction of the current that day, the torso likely drifted down from upstream. Have them expand the search along the riverway.”

“Yes, sir.” Bai Jin gave a salute, then glanced back at the torso. His dark eyes shifted thoughtfully. “Seventh Brother, why don’t we bring Sixth Miss in to take a look? She might be able to find something useful.”

“That won’t be necessary. I can handle it.” E’Yuan reflexively rejected the suggestion the moment he heard the words “Sixth Miss.” “Just give me a little more time.”

Bai Jin let out a scornful laugh. “You’ve been staring at it for a full day and night, and all you’ve worked out is that it’s female. Well, obviously — there are two obvious indicators right there on the chest. Even I could figure that out.”

“You — ” E’Yuan’s face turned crimson, but he couldn’t come up with a suitable rebuttal.

“Enough.” Shi Ting cut off the exchange between the two of them. “I’ll go to Sixth Miss myself.”

That Shi Ting would come in person was both unexpected and, in another way, entirely expected for Yan Qing.

It was four in the afternoon — the usual dismissal time at the Women’s Nursing Academy. Students were trickling out through the school gates in twos and threes. Yan Qing sat in her wheelchair as Murong chatted to her about something amusing that had happened that day.

She was listening with pleasure when a slender figure suddenly stepped into the path of the two of them. Murong, acting on instinct, immediately moved to shield Yan Qing and cast a wary look at the stranger.

“Sixth Miss, there’s no need for alarm. Director Shi sent me.” This young man was handsome, with refined features — yet there was an air of cold aloofness about him that said *keep your distance*, which made him seem even harder to approach than Shi Ting.

“My name is Zheng Shu Shi. I’m the Captain of the First Squadron at the Military Police Bureau. Miss Yan, good afternoon.”

Yan Qing had long heard that Shi Ting had an able officer under his command by the surname Zheng — Zheng Yun, Shi Ting’s right hand and left arm in one.

“Captain Zheng, good afternoon.” Yan Qing returned a polite nod.

“Would you please come with me, Miss Yan? Director Shi is waiting for you,” Zheng Yun said.

Parked beneath a tree not far away sat a black police vehicle — Shi Ting’s personal car.

Yan Qing hadn’t expected Shi Ting to come to the school himself, and when she saw him, she couldn’t help letting a small look of surprise cross her face.

—